Written questions by Wood.

If he will publish FOI reference, FOI2025/09624, dated 16 July 2025.

A copy of the information released in the response to the referenced Freedom of Information request has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 41254 on Ministers: Aviation, whether (a) his Department and (b) the Crown Commercial Service hold information on the (i) locations and (ii) activities undertaken by EDF under that contract.

The Cabinet Office has used the HMG Crown Commercial Services (CCS) RM6251 Energy Supply Framework (Additional Services) with EDF for offsetting GBNI related emissions. CCS has no involvement in the contract beyond providing the framework. The Cabinet Office does not hold details of EDF’s activities or locations under the Energy Supply Framework.

What is the estimated average salary of a civil servant in the Government Communications Service, in the most recent period for which data is available; and what is the estimated monetary value of the employer contribution to their Civil Service pension.

Government Communication Service does not set the salaries of Government Communicators. Government Communications salaries are aligned with Civil Service pay bands. Salaries vary according to grade, location, and departmental pay arrangements, and are consistent with the broader Civil Service structures. All Government Communications civil servants are members of the Civil Service pension schemes and receive employer contributions in line with standard Civil Service pension arrangements. The employer contribution rates are determined by the scheme actuaries and apply uniformly across the Civil Service.

Whether (a) his Department and (b) the Government Communications Service uses third-party providers to (i) assess, (ii) index and (iii) identify disinformation.

The Government Communication Service has a contract with Storyzy which can be used to track and identify disinformation trends. This tool is used to understand the threat posed by hostile actors where manipulating the information environment can be a threat to national security, democracy and public safety.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16512 on Government Communication Service, and with reference to the FOI Internal Review response IR2025/05101 of 29 May 2025, if she will place in the Library a list of the Government Communication Service staff broken down by (a) department and (b) agency.

Government Communications is made up of around 6,000 professional communicators from across the UK, supporting and promoting the work of 25 ministerial departments, 21 non-ministerial departments and over 300 agencies and other public bodies. The list provided for the response to IR2025/05101 breaks this down further, and will be submitted for entry into the House of Commons library. The Government Communication Service headcount can be found on Gov.uk at this link here.

What the headcount of staff included within the Government Communications Service is.

Government Communications is made up of around 6,000 professional communicators from across the UK, supporting and promoting the work of 25 ministerial departments, 21 non-ministerial departments and over 300 agencies and other public bodies. The list provided for the response to IR2025/05101 breaks this down further, and will be submitted for entry into the House of Commons library. The Government Communication Service headcount can be found on Gov.uk at this link here.

What data the Office for National Statistics holds on the average income of people by (a) class and (b) type of profession.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 29th August is attached.

Whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to allow motorcycles to access bus lanes by default.

The Government remains committed to supporting efforts to improve the safety of motorcyclists, but has no plans to bring forward legislation to allow motorcycles to access bus lanes by default. Decisions on this matter are for local highway authorities to make on a case by case basis.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2024 to Question 4667 on Nick Joicey, for what reason the internal move was deemed exceptional circumstances.

I refer the hon Member to 4667. The Civil Service Commission is operationally independent of the government.

With reference to his Department's policy paper, Infected Blood Inquiry Additional Report Government Response, published on 30 July 2025, what is the estimated cost of delivering those recommendations.

The policy decisions that the Government announced on 21 July, and included in the Government Response on 30 July, are currently estimated to cost around £1 billion in further compensation payments. However, the total cost could change depending on what is agreed following consultation with the infected blood community.The Government has said it will pay what it takes to fund the scheme, and we will update the forecast costs at Autumn Budget 2025.

If he will place in the Library a copy of any correspondence between his Department and the Commissioner for Public Appointments relating to public appointments without open and fair competition since 1 July 2024.

Under the Governance Code for Public Appointments there is no requirement to publish correspondence between the Department and the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

With reference to the document entitled Process Intelligence privacy notice, published on 23 July 2025, how his Department defines the term process intelligence.

Process Intelligence is the approach used to understand how work is happening across an organisation by analysing multiple processes using data from organisational systems. It supports a forward-looking approach to process improvement that delivers value for money - helping organisations identify root causes of inefficiencies that may be built into processes and actively shape better ways of working.

Whether the costs for any contracts with his Department's strategic suppliers have increased following the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions in April 2025.

The Cabinet Office does not hold the information regarding the detail of contract increases following the rise of employers' National Insurance contributions in April 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 July 2025 to Question 69066 on Lobbying, whether he plans to (a) change the consultant lobbying regime and (b) undertake post-legislative scrutiny of the lobbying measures in the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014.

I refer the Hon Member back to PQ69066 and to PQ54767.

How many Directors of Communications for government departments and agencies have left their roles since 4 July 2024.

Since 4 July 2024, 5 Directors of Communications for government departments have left their roles.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2025 to Question 65885 on Cabinet Office: Marketing, which digital and social media channels were used for paid advertising; whether this included digital influencers; and what programmes were promoted.

Channels and partners used by the New Media Unit (NMU) are determined on a project by project basis. The NMU utilises a wide range of digital and social media channels to reach target audiences. This includes the use of digital influencers.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2025 to Question 38049 on non-departmental public bodies, if he will list the 249 non-departmental public bodies operating as of September 2025.

A list of non-departmental public bodies can be found on the ALB Landscape Analysis 2023/24. This dataset includes information on Arm's Length Bodies (ALBs) that were sponsored by the UK Government during the 2023/24 Financial Year. This dataset is published annually a year in arrears.

How many suppliers were invited to bid for contract CCZZ24A18 under the Dynamic Purchasing System; how many bids were submitted; and for what reason the University of Birmingham was selected.

Contract CCZZ24A18 was awarded following a competition run under the Crown Commercial Service Research & Insights Dynamic Purchasing System (RM6126) agreement. A total of 453 suppliers were invited to bid and two bids were submitted. In accordance with the evaluation criteria, the University of Birmingham achieved the highest overall score on quality and price and was therefore awarded the contract.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37432 on Prime Minister: Communication, how many headcount staff are assigned to work in the New Media Unit; and what the budget cost of the Unit is in 2025-26.

The New Media Unit currently has 19 FTE, of which 17 are permanent and 2 are loanees. Assuming the NMU is fully staffed with a consistent grade mix, throughout the financial year the annual salary costs currently would be circa £1.28 million.

How many staff are (a) permanently assigned and (b) loaned to the New Media Unit; and what is the target for the total number of staff once it is fully recruited.

The New Media Unit currently has 19 FTE, of which 17 are permanent and 2 are loanees. Assuming the NMU is fully staffed with a consistent grade mix, throughout the financial year the annual salary costs currently would be circa £1.28 million.